The PGA Tour has been left isolated in golf’s great putting debate after the
European Tour announced it is backing the governing bodies’ proposal to ban
“anchoring”.

As revealed by Telegraph Sport last week, the game’s second biggest professional circuit has refused to side with their American counterparts, which recently declared its opposition to the plans of the Royal and Ancient and United States Golf Association effectively to outlaw the belly-putters and, to some degree, the broom-handle putters.

With every other professional Tour, in both genders, since stating that they will stick with the rules-makers it is difficult to see the US Tour going on its own.

George O’Grady, the European Tour’s chief executive was wooed by Tim Finchem, the PGA Tour’s commissioner, at the World Matchplay in Tucson two weeks ago, but there was no European appetite to threaten the traditional authorities with a split.

“The European Tour has confirmed its support for the R&A and the USGA and their proposal for rule 14-1b – the prohibition of anchoring any club when making a stroke under the Rules of Golf,” said O’Grady in a statement. “Our members support the unique role played by the governing bodies in formulating the rules.

“Additionally, virtually all of our tournament committee and player representatives support the proposed rule even though they are aware, and have taken into account, the fact that some members and especially our senior members use the anchored method.

“We understand the points put forward by the PGA Tour and respect and sympathise with their views.”

In truth, O’Grady has left Finchem with nowhere to go. When announcing his Tour’s stance in Arizona, he insisted there was an “absence of data or any basis to conclude that there is a competitive advantage to be gained by using anchoring”, suggesting there was no need for a ban.

Yet if the PGA Tour decided to ignore the new rule – set to be introduced in 2016 – then there would be the farcical situation in America of the regular Tour events allowing belly-putters, but not the majors. And what would happen in the Ryder Cup?

Jack Nicklaus has urged the PGA Tour to fall in line. “The thing that would disturb me was if the Tour took another position other than the USGA’s and R&A’s final position,” the 18-time major-winner said. “The Tour has always played by one set of rules and I think we should stay that way.”